The Roaring Season

About 20 years ago John's Monaro was for sale and I bet he wishes he could have gotten hold of it back then.
(Not a great photo but it gives an idea of how it looked then. 1996-98 )

Paul , the owner from 96-98 was absolutely shocked when he saw the pic above on the condition when I bought it.
He could not believe someone could let a car just rot away sitting outside.
Looks so neat here...and its not the best pic.
Pauls son saw the above trademe pics in NZV8 and contacted Todd Wylie who in turn contacted me.
Thanks for all of this Todd.
oh, yes, just remembered I havent told his story on here have I?
Well, he bought it from Mt Eden in the mid 90s for $7000, and drove it home.
That was the plan, except the reconditioned motor locked up.
Got back to the workshop, checked the motor - turned out to be an Oldsmobile 350. so the supplied engine parts didnt fit the engine.
Boss had a Chev 350 and said - just sling this in...........we have been down this track before havent we.
Motor didnt fit, never could work out why a Chev motor didnt fit a Monaro, sooooooooo I told him.
Closure at last after 20 years.
Walking the dogs now....more to follow when we get back.

John has come across some old paperwork and photos from a previous owner, Paul Horan, who must have been sick to the stomach on seeing how the car had deteriorated after he sold it in the late nineties. So here are some photos again from the 1996-98 period.
Best looking lawn furniture in the country.









(Getting ready to sell )

Plus here is a copy of the "Vehicle Modifications Declaration Certificate" which included flared guards and roll bar etc. January 1991.



Final photo of some of the hard to find emblems.

Thanks so much for posting all of this Ken.
So as you can see from the pix, the Monaro had a very happy time last century, looking gleaming, rust free, registered, WOF and generally having a life as a road car after a short but exciting race life.

How quickly things changed when the motor came out, and it was left outside to rot in Otara.
Will post some more of that place soon.

You read about "Barn Finds" and then you see what a "Backyard Find" looks like and then realize what John had to go through and restore this pile to better than new.
He should be knighted for his efforts !
I think these are the last of the "before restoration photos".
My hat goes off to you Sir John.








(Ken Hyndman ..editor )

Big thanks to Ken for compressing and posting these pix.
I had not wanted to post all of these before as simply they were depressing.
Now when you see what it was like before it was parked, its more refreshing.
Ray "Wrecker" Wright made a lot of money going round Otara in the 70s getting Zephyrs laying around like this and dismantling them.
And btw.... this was still quite a few more years before I even got it.
It was rescued from Otara and went to Kawakawa Bay o sit next to the salt water.

Note the petrol filler where Buncie had it put

Only two words! Wow, amazing.

khyndart in CA wrote:John has come across some old paperwork and photos from a previous owner, Paul Horan, who must have been sick to the stomach on seeing how the car had deteriorated after he sold it in the late nineties. So here are some photos again from the 1996-98 period.
Best looking lawn furniture in the country.
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(Getting ready to sell )

These sure are an eye opener! I can't believe how someone could just leave this thing to rot.

Sir John........has a certain...as long as you don't mention Robin Hood.....ring to it.........
Absolutely superb resto sir! May you have much enjoyment, therefrom.

Found this in an old Autonews. Looks like Grady has the car on the edge.

First big day out is Saturday 2nd September- next weekend.
Auckland Car Club at Hampton Downs- one day event.
Team Cambridge Monaro will be practicing and running.
Almost cant believe its going to happen.

khyndart in CA wrote:You read about "Barn Finds" and then you see what a "Backyard Find" looks like and then realize what John had to go through and restore this pile to better than new.
He should be knighted for his efforts !
I think these are the last of the "before restoration photos".
My hat goes off to you Sir John.

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(Ken Hyndman ..editor )

I could not agree more... awesome effort!

I will try to get there John. If I don't I will be thinking of you. Good luck for the day.

Cheers
Bruce

Well it's an absolute definite I can't be there, but all the very best for the "Big Day Out" John. What you have done is nothing short of stupendous. Congratulations. I hope it all works out as it should, every other driver and car (and walls) stay well away.

Congratulations John. From your dream of finding the car in the first place to how it is now is nothing short of astounding. A tribute to you and all who have helped along the way in this journey.
Regards
Tony

TonyG- great to hear from you again mate, and thanks everyone for the Thumbs Up.
Watch Queensland car club articles your way..............

Today I got Steve Holmes 2nd book- first was Fords-naturally-, and have seen cover of 3rd- Speedway Cars.
So.........Holden- Kiwi Obsessions- very suitable title- and there it was- a fantastic article with great pix of the Team Cambridge Monaro.
I havent read the rest of the book yet, but there are a ton of neat pix so huge thanks to all contributors here.
Well done Steve, absolutely recommend this book also.

Scotty who ran the Meremere dragstrip for 8 years tells me there is very heavy rain at Hampton Downs area tomorrow- 30 mm on rain involved.
The team pulled the plug on the Monaro going out there .
Everyone else has been driving the car but me so far........

Ok, so I may as well go to work. No point risking a lovely car in that weather.
B.

John McKechnie wrote:Scotty who ran the Meremere dragstrip for 8 years tells me there is very heavy rain at Hampton Downs area tomorrow- 30 mm on rain involved.
The team pulled the plug on the Monaro going out there .
Everyone else has been driving the car but me so far........